Sedum stenopetalum aka Wormleaf Stonecrop

Sedum stenopetalum has the common name wormleaf stonecrop. It is part of Crassulaceae, the stonecrop family. Its native range spans western Canada and the western United States. Records place it in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. They also include California, Idaho, and western Montana. It grows on rocky slopes, bluffs, and in rock cracks. It lives in gravel, grassland, and sagebrush desert too. Some sites lie in forests of ponderosa pine. These sites tend to be dry and drain well.

This small succulent forms mats or low mounds. Its creeping stems have slim, fleshy green leaves. The leaves may have red tints. RHS gives a height of around 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. The broader garden range reaches 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall and wide. RHS says its leaves stay green all year. Yet some plants die back in winter. New rosettes, or leaf clusters, can then take their place. Sources differ on how long it lives. Chicago calls it perennial, meaning it lives for several years. Kew lists annual or biennial growth: one or two years.

In summer, upright flower stems rise above the creeping growth. They bear narrow leaves and groups of bright yellow flowers. Chicago gives a bloom season of May through August. The flowers draw butterflies and bring color to beds and borders. Small rosettes also grow where leaves meet flower stems. These drop to the soil and take root. To grow more plants, gardeners can take soft stem-tip cuttings. Use shoots that have no flowers.

Choose a sheltered site with full sun and good drainage. Chicago says part shade suits it too. RHS calls for soil with a mid-range level of nutrients. It recommends a neutral to alkaline pH. Sand, loam, and chalk suit the plant. It copes with drought and suits rock gardens, banks, and slopes. It also grows in patio pots and other containers. RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H6. Chicago lists USDA zones 5–9. Plants reach full size in two to five years. They need no pruning.

Poor drainage and damp soil can cause root and crown rots. Both fungi and bacteria may cause these rots. Slugs, snails, and vine weevil grubs may attack plants. Scale insects and mealybugs may attack them too. PFAF lists the leaves as safe to eat raw or cooked. It favors young leaves but rates food use low. It calls the plant nonpoisonous, though large servings may upset the stomach. PFAF also notes past use of whole-plant infusions as medicine. This record does not show that such treatments work or are safe.